Football ban

SIR, — I m shocked to see that your poll about banning children from football in school is 70-plus per cent in favour. I am a mother of three children. Surely in this day and age our children are so protected. If we take away any risk of danger from their

SIR, - I'm shocked to see that your poll about banning children from football in school is 70-plus per cent in favour. I am a mother of three children. Surely in this day and age our children are so protected. If we take away any risk of danger from their lives, how exactly do they learn to deal with it or to keep themselves safe? Surely we all learn about riding a bike by falling off a couple of times?

We have taken competitiveness out of our sports day. Now we are considering taking sports out of school. What are we teaching our children about life? Both my son and daughter have played football at school through choice. I wouldn't want anyone's choice to play sport to be taken away.

Yes they have both had a few knocks and bruises, but neither would have given up. Nothing is achieved in life if you don't risk a little and think out of the box. We are not encouraging our children to be forward thinking and challenging if we wrap them in cotton wool!

LISA-JANE FINLEY,

Howard Close, St Albans.